The subtle connection that sparked between them on the academy's shooting range blossomed beautifully. It became clear that Rod and Elena's relationship was transforming into something far deeper… Something woven into the very fabric of their beings.
Together they carved out a tapestry of memories, each moment a thread spun from shared laughter and quiet understanding, all while pursuing their studies.
Their routine often involved runs around Pax and Lux's campus, where Rod would expound upon the intricacies of his unique power with youthful enthusiasm.
"So… what I'm trying to say is that the large amount of mana my body generates makes me able to move at mach speeds and be super strong! I tested these abilities in my backyard once and made it past Mach 3! As I age I'll naturally get faster and stronger too! Isn't that cool?!"
Elena would listen with a playful indulgence, but a mischievous glint always appeared in her eyes when his excited monologue stretched too long.
She would pick up her pace and leave Rod trailing behind without a word.
"Slowpoke!" she always teased.
"Oh, you're asking for it!"
Everything changed when both officially began dating and their romance weaved itself into the fabric of their daily school life.
Rod invited her on their first official date with a nervous but determined heart.
He chose a place of quiet beauty: a solitary hilltop crowned by an ancient tree whose branches offered little protection from the midday sun. Though on that magical night, its purpose was transformed. It became a sentinel beneath a sky ablaze with stars that waited solely for them.
Elena and Rod settled comfortably onto a soft picnic mat and felt the cool grass gently embrace beneath them. That's when he would embark on an enthusiastic ramble about the cosmos, explaining every detail of constellations and galaxies he could possibly recall.
It was definitely clear he was trying his hardest to impress her, and these earnest efforts were almost comically endearing. Yet, it was the sincerity of his attempt to make their first date truly special that captivated Elena.
They were competitors in some aspects, except when the need arose for them to work together against a common foe: The university's final exams. Both of them wisely decided to channel their intellects into a more collaborative pursuit. They met diligently for three months straight and immersed themselves in the ocean of their course content.
Sometimes they would escape the confines of the academy and seek caffeine in cozy cafes. Other times they found focus within the intimacy of their dorm rooms poring over textbooks.
Their collaborative efforts bore fruit. They both achieved a coveted spot within the top 30 of the best final exam grades, and the simple fact they passed was something celebrated when graduation arrived.
A blur of caps, heartfelt speeches, and exuberant cheers transpired on campus. It was a scene that took time to settle in, but when it did, they couldn't be happier.
After the official celebration, the two of them turned to each other and embraced in a tender hug. Elena then pulled out her Mana-phone, playfully grabbed Rod by the arm, and tugged him close to her side.
"Say cheese!" she exclaimed just before taking a perfect selfie.
Now a new exciting adventure began. They packed up their bags and decided to fully immerse themselves in the joy of celebration.
Rod effortlessly shouldered both their bags in front of the academy's front entrance while Elena burst forward in eagerness.
"COME ON ROD! Let's go to the pool!" she yelled.
"I thought cheetahs didn't like water."
"You know, that's pretty stereotypical, right?"
"I'm just kidding! Please don't cancel me."
Fifty years had passed since that moment, and Rod stood in front of Pax and Lux's familiar entrance. It was now the present.
Just six minutes ago, he'd been watching his daughter drift into a peaceful sleep. Then, he had risen and ran there, driven by an invisible force and an insistent ache in his heart. He needed to see this place… After all, it was not just a school; it was a night to remember.
Rod's gaze lingered on the academy's logo for a few minutes before slowly lifting his left hand and finding a ring nestled on his middle finger. Its metallic feel forced images from his past to resurface.
Back then, their adventures didn't just end in Grand North.
One time they decided to take a small trip to the best beach in Elena's homeland: Ihari. It was a place of legendary beauty renowned throughout the continent.
He saw his girlfriend's athletic form in a swimsuit again: The soft and brown fur over her skin was playfully tousled by the gentle sea breeze, and the bright sunlight caught her hair, transforming it into a halo of light.
The beach teemed with life too: Beastmen and Beastwomen, humans, even a few vampires. It was a truly free country. A sanctuary where everyone was welcomed regardless of their origin, coming from every corner of Loran to appreciate the "Saudor" beach.
However, Rod's focus was drawn to the muscular men flexing their fit upper bodies in the sand. Such sculpted perfection forced an uncomfortable pang of jealousy through him. It made him reluctant to reveal his own body.
"Why don't you take your shirt off? It's like a million degrees out here," Elena asked when sitting beside him.
Rod stared at her perfectly fit body before quickly averting his eyes.
"N-no thanks… I'm feeling a bit chilly."
That day was full of simple pleasures, even with such hiccups. Both of them were immersed in the energy of the beach and even braved the descent of a few water slides that genuinely freaked Rod out. But for him, the most cherished memory was taking photos of his girlfriend as she savored a melting ice cream cone. Elena famously hated being watched when eating, and her embarrassed stares only fueled his desire for even more pictures.
It didn't just stop at the beach. One day, they waited until the embrace of night settled over the landscape to start eating a recently hunted prey.
Rod slowly took a piece of leg perfectly roasted over the crackling bonfire and brought it to his mouth. Just before he could take a bite, a sudden sound of chewing emanated from beside him. He turned his head and looked upon Elena, who was already devastating the main body of the wolf with an almost primal efficiency.
Admiring the uninhibited beauty of her "eating face" was something he always liked to do. At least until the girl sensed his gaze and a mortified blush spread across her face, just like at that moment.
"Don't stare!"
"I'm sorry, you just look so cute eating."
"S-stop!" she stammered before trying to cover her red face.
Moments like that—full of laughter and love—were what gave him the courage for the next step. It was the fuel he needed for the most terrifying question of his life.
"Hey, I wanted to tell you something…" Rod's voice drifted softly in his memory.
"And what's that, Rod?" Elena inquired.
"Well, you always say that we are independent free spirits, right? Well… do you wanna, you know… stay a little closer together… and… well…"
"SPIT IT OUT!"
"I love you, Elena… Will you marry me?"
Those words echoed in his mind and seared themselves into his heart. It made him remember every detail of the life-altering moment Elena had become his wife: The wedding, the guns they gave each other as a sign of their love, the party…
It was a memory that faded when Rod made the lonely trek back from the Academy ruins to their desert campsite. The silence of the night felt heavier now, weighted down by the ghosts of his joy…
Back in the campsite, he entered the tent where he left Catra. Seeing his daughter's sleeping form made him chuckle a little due to a small surprise. She had unconsciously taken the pillow from the man's own sleeping bag and was now hugging it.
The innocence etched in her gentle smile made it seem like she was having a dream untouched by the shadows that haunted his waking hours, just like always.
He couldn't help but overlay her face with the very first time he'd seen that expression. And that's when Elena's excited voice echoed in his mind once more.
"Rod! I've got a surprise!"
"And what's that, dear?"
"We're having a baby!"
Suddenly, his mind painted a detailed picture of the moments leading up to Catra's birth.
First the celebration of the baby shower filled with the warmth and laughter of all their dearest friends, then the discussions where both of them deliberated over the perfect name for their little girl, and finally, the dawn of that miraculous morning: The moment they could finally touch her.
Rod recalled following the doctors when they moved Elena onto a stretcher in the corridors of the hospital.
"It's time, dear! Today's the day! It's okay, just a little longer!" he said with a mixture of hope.
His thumb rubbed reassuringly against her hand, a gesture that made Elena stare back at him. She did her best to mask the unimaginable pain wracking her body. It was a pain necessary to bring life to the world, and she would gladly suffer through it.
A few hours later, the man found himself pacing from one side of the waiting room to the other. Every tick of the clock was an eternity where he was consumed by a singular question: What if something went wrong?
It was only when Doctor Halm emerged from the emergency sliding door that his pacing ceased.
"It's done."
"Is everything okay?"
"They're both fine," Halm happily responded before granting him immediate permission to see them.
They walked for a few hallways and his body trembled from the sheer release of tension, but it all stopped when they arrived at their destination.
Bathed in a soft ethereal light, he saw it. One of the many sacred memories etched into his soul: Elena's face was propped up in the hospital bed, holding their tiny Catra in her arms. Rays of pure sunshine streamed past the window and illuminated them in a halo of perfect light. It was an impeccable scene only imagined in dreams, yet, this was reality. This was HIS reality.
Catra wasn't crying nor was she awake. She just let out a delicate yawn that caused both of her parents to feel tears of joy well in their eyes.
The child was undeniably a beast-woman: her small form was covered in fur and her features predominantly resembled Elena's. Though, her eyebrows were subtly shaped like his. She was a perfect blend of their shared life, and the simple thought of being in the moment threatened to overwhelm them.
They had indeed come a long way from hesitant friends to a couple deeply in love, and now they stood as a loving family.